Marquetry assembly



Sept. 26, 1933. c. H. WILLNUS MARQUETRY ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 21.

I'NVENTOR. Chr/lsfopher hfW/l/nus BY 2 f ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 1,927,882 Q MARQUETRY ASSEMBLY Christopher H. Willnus, Albans, N. Y. Application February 21, 1931. Serial No. 517,403

1 Claim. (01. 20-74) This invention relates to the decorative arts, and, more particularly to the art of marquetry. For example, it has long been the practice, and it is now especially in vogue to decorate walls of apartment and dwelling houses through the use of so-called paneling, which consists in nailing moldings to the walls to divide such walls into spaces or panels, the body of which panels may be papered, tinted or painted different colors from the main portion of the wall to produce the paneled effect to which I have referred.

It has been the practice to paint, stain or enamel such moldings in order to obtain the desired effects. Some of the most beautiful decorai tive effects from the standpoint of richness in design is obtained by the use of inlays, but it has never been possible to use inlays on moldings of the kind referred to for the reason that it is practically impossible to paint the body of the molding without overlapping and spoiling the appearance of the inlay. For this reason, it has heretofore been impossible to employ inlays in this connection.

One object of the present invention is to provide a molding for the purpose stated or otherwise, so constructed as to provide a removable inlay which, during installation of the molding to form a panel, may be removed so that the molding may be installed without damage to the inlay and may thereupon be painted, stained or otherwise finally prepared with an appropriate coating after which the inlay may be brought into position and held in place by friction.

A marked advantage of this arrangement is that in the event redecoration is desired at any time, such, for example, as repainting, 'restaining or the like, the inlay may be readily removed to permit of this operation and subsequently replaced after the refinishing operation is completed to give a clear, sharp line of demarcation between the inlay and the body of the molding.

While the present invention is particularly intended for panel moldings of the character described, I am aware that the removable inlay of i this invention may be utilized in the carrying out of decorative design on furniture or elsewhere and particularly in connection with painted, stained, enameled or lacquered surfaces.

In these various environments, the underlying inventive thought of the invention remains the same and is characterized by the fact that the article which is provided with the inlay is formed therein with a channel, the inlay being made in strip form of a size and proportion to be received into the channel with a fit sufficiently tight to cause the inlay strip to be frictionally'held in' position againstinadvertent disengagement, but

to allow the removal of the inlay through the employment of an appropriate tool or implement without damage to any of the parts of the assembly. Q i

Features of the invention, other than those specified, will; be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one practical embodiment. of the invention, but the construction therein shown is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention. 7

The drawing shows in perspective a portion of a panel frame embodying the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, 1, 2, 3 and 4 designate pieces of molding which are mitered together at 5 to form a rectangular frame. In practice, the molding is made in suitable lengths, the miters are cut in the usual manner and in utilizing them to form a panel, they are nailed toa wall or ceiling as may be desired to remain in position permanently. Molding made in accordance with this invention is provided intermediate its lateral edges with a groove or channel 6 of rectangular cross section and if desired nails or screws employed to hold the. molding in place on the wall or ceiling, may pass through the base of the channel, so that it is not necessary to mar the face of the molding for the installation thereof. After the molding has been nailed or otherwise fastened in place, the strip inlay is adapted to be placed in the channel 6. This inlay is made in the form of a strip as indicated at '7 and is of a size to be received into and closely fit the channel 6. This inlay is made of any desired dimension and is cut into appropriate length and mitered at their ends to be received into the channels 6 of the several moldings after the manner indicated in the drawing; As shown in the drawing, the inlay strip in the molding 2 is fully in place, whereas the inlay strip in the molding 1 is shown as being introduced or removed from the channel 6.

The inlay strip embodies, as shown, a strip of material, such as wood, the exposed face of which is provided with a relatively shallow channel in which the inlay 8 is permanently glued in posi- 105 tion, so that as the strip is introduced into or removed from the channel 6, it carries therewith the inlay or marquetry as will be clearly understood from the drawing.

An important feature of this invention resides 110 in the fact that the inlay is mounted in a removable carrier strip so that during installation of the molding, it will not be harmed and after the molding is installed, it may be painted, stained, enameled or lacquered in any desired colors. After the finish, which is indicated as of appreciable thickness at 9 in the drawing, has been completed, it is only necessary to insert the inlay stripswithout the use of any tools, whereupon they will be frictionally held in position and cannot be inadvertently dislodged.

Particular emphasis is placed on the fact that this does not involve merely a loose inlay, but on the contrary the inventioncontemplates the permanent molding of marquetry or inlay 8 upon an appropriate carrier member such as the strip '7, together with the formation of a channel into which this carrier is received to be retained in position against inadvertent displacement.

The invention has been particularly described in connection Withmoldings for usein panelling walls, but, as hereinbefore stated, the channel 6 instead of being formed in the molding as shown in" the drawing may be formed in a table top, or on some part of a chair or other article of furni-' ture without departing from this invention, the scope of which is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In an assembly of the character described, an

article of manufacture, the exposed surface of which is provided therein with a channel of rectangular cross section having shear parallel sides, a strip of material of rectangular cross section with sheer parallel sides and proportioned to seat in the channel with the-lateral edges'of the strip in sufliciently close fitting direct contact with the walls of the channel to be frictionally and removably held therein with the exposed face of the strip flush with said surface, a rectangular channel with sheer parallel sides formed in the exposed face of said strip, and inlay permanently secured in the channel of the strip with the exposed face of the inlay flush with the exposed face of the strip, so that the exposed faces of the inlay, the strip and said article are all flush with respect to one another, said strip and inlay being removable from said article as a unit through the open side of the channel to permit of painting of the latter without contact 'of'paint With the said unit.

CHRISTOPHER I-I. WILLNUS. 

